Do you have acne breakouts?

Most of us have suffered with breakouts at some point. Whether this was in your teenage years or in adult life (or maybe even both and you’re wondering why it just hasn’t gone) and we all know how much this can affect our confidence.

Then there are the dark patches and redness that are left after the breakouts clear up, sometimes even scarring too.

Read our top 8 things you can do now to take control of your acne.

1. Assess your skincare

You may have tried every scrub, cream, serum or cleanser that promises to clear up acne. The truth is that many of these products contain the wrong types of alcohol which will dry out your skin and cause your skin to produce more sebum which then clogs in the pores with dead skin cells and causes bacteria responsible for spots to form again. So it becomes a vicious cycle of being reliant on these products that continue to cause breakouts.

We recommend getting your skin assessed by an expert who can recommend the right products for your concern. This means taking your skin care one step further and using cosmeceuticals rather than cosmetics which use much higher concentrations of active ingredients and technology to carry the product deeper into the skin. If you have oily skin, you may need products with salicylic acid in to treat your acne, but then a moisturiser or serum that contains HA (hyaluronic acid, naturally found in the body) to balance out your skins hydration without causing any extra oil.

2. See your GP, there may be an underlying cause.

Many of us seek the internet for help. This can entail of hours scrolling through natural remedy sites, changing diets and buying numerous products to try and help eradicate the issue.

If your acne is severe, you may need to take the medical route. Your GP may refer you onto Roaccutane or Rizuderm. This medication can work very well for many people with severe cases, but your eyes and skin may become very dry, and sensitive to sunlight during treatment.

Your GP may also be able to run some simple tests to rule out any other underlying causes of your acne. Many poly-cystic ovary syndrome sufferers experience acne on both their face and back. With these simple tests done you can then understand further the causes of your breakouts.

3. Change your diet and water intake.

Now is also a time to assess your diet. Many acne sufferers find dairy products can affect their skin and reducing the amount of cheese, yoghurt and milk within your diet can really help too.

4. Don’t forget about your make up

We often end up in a vicious cycle of wanting to hide away our breakouts by applying lots of heavy make-up. We then are blocking the skin from breathing and functioning correctly. Mineral make up is better for your skin as it allows it to breathe. Good mineral make up brands contain no talcum powder to bulk out the product and no oil or preservatives which mean that the skin isn’t exposed to excess oil, large molecular substances which prevent the skin from breathing.

Make up also needs to be removed correctly and fully at the end of the day with an appropriate cleanser. Double cleaning will ensure the makeup is removed however if cleansing cloths and towels are still showing residue of make up after 2 cleanses a further cleanse should be performed.

5. Don’t pick, squeeze or pop your spots

One of the biggest issues with having spots is the temptation to squeeze them or pick them to release the sebum build up. This firstly can cause unnecessary trauma to the skin whilst also spreading bacteria to the surrounding skin.

Often dead skin cells are on top of the breakouts and by squeezing the area you are trying to break through the layer of dead skin which can lead to more force being used than needed.

Opt for skin peels which will exfoliate the surface dead skin and will melt the excess sebum that has been produced.

6. Get a routine

Every morning and evening, make sure you are cleansing your skin and following the directions given by your expert if you have been recommended a serums and/or moisturisers.

We often forget about cleansing in the morning but this is such an important part of getting your skin on the right track. Often excess bacteria will form on the skins surface whilst your asleep meaning any products you then apply on top will mix with the bacteria and wont perform at their best.

7. Get fresh air

City atmospheres can cause damage to your skin. Pollution and other toxicities create free radicals which are constantly attacking your skin. You will often here friends and family who have moved from rural areas to large cities will state that their skin has changed. This is due to higher levels of these free radicals being around.

The most effective way of preventing these free radicals from attacking the skin is to apply an anti-oxidant, the most powerful being stabilised vitamin c. Some of the most effective are the Skinceuticals Phloretin and Obagi pro C 15%.

8. Avoid bacteria on the area

Ensure you clean your make up brushes regularly with an antibacterial solution. We would recommend these are cleaned every few days.

Avoid touching your skin as you are passing on bacteria from your hands and other natural oils that build on your own skin.

Clean towels, facial cloths and pillow cases every few days on a high temperature wash to kill any bacteria.

How can DestinationSkin help with acne?

DestinationSkin are a chain of clinics that offer help for many adults with a few small pimples, all the way through to Acne at its most aggressive stage, treating not only the face but the back too without the need for harsh medication such as roacutane.

We aren’t dermatologists, as our approach to treating breakouts is a softer one, but we do get results. Once the breakouts, whiteheads and painful cysts have cleared, we can offer a program to help treat any discolouration, redness and scarring that the breakouts may have left behind. We don’t just treat the problem, we provide the solution and aftercare, so you can feel more confident about your skin.

What should I do next?

It all starts with a bespoke consultation with a professional practitioner who will assess your skin and ask you questions about your current routines and any treatments and products you have tried before then recommend a program that is bespoke to you.

The practitioner will take photographs so you can assess your progression with the treatment as you go.

So the seasons are changing and so is your skin. You will start to notice as the days get colder and the heating starts to get turned on your skin will start to feel more rough and dry. This is due to the fact that your hydration in your skin is not at its optimum. You then start to pile on the moisturiser in the evening to try to get your skin to feel supple. This in fact is just sticking back the skin that needs to come off in return of new skin cells being stimulated at the deeper levels.

You may also start to notice that the summer sun hasn’t been kind to your skin and as your tan fades, fine lines and darker patches appear in return. We all know the sun isn’t good for your skin however on the flip side it feels good when you have the glow! Your hands, chest and shoulders may also show the signs of summer.

Tips on how to deal with darker patches appearing on the skin:

Use a product with natural skin lighteners to brighten the pigmentation that has started to form.

Tips on how to deal with Dry and Dull skin:

When your skin has lost water no matter how much emollient based moisturisers you apply your skin won’t have that plump feel. Opt for a Hyaluronic based serum to hydrate the lower levels of skin and bring water to the surface. DQ Hydrating B5 is packed with antioxidants to protect your skin further as well as a healthy dose of HA and vitamins.

Don’t stick back the cells that want to come off. Use a light AHA cleanser to exfoliate the surface skin without harming the environment with plastic microbeads or causing your skin to become bright red and scratched by using nut based exfoliates. DQ glycolic cleanser is great to use a couple of times a week.

Tips on how to deal with fine lines:

For light ageing with finelines you can opt for a light skin peel or a light microneedlingtreatment to stimulate new collagen which has stopped being produced.

For mild ageing with finelines and wrinkles opt for a microneedlingtreatment to induce collagen and repair the surface of the skin. Consider Botox® for the treatment of deeper lines or static lines that stay indented after a movement has been made.

Faustina Aidoo has been a Destination Skin practitioner and skin peel expert for over 10 years. Based in the Destination Skin Maddox Street Clinic, near Oxford Circus in London, Faustina performs up to 12 revitalising skin peels every week for her loyal customers. We’ve caught up with her to find out more about the work she does:

What is a Skin Peel?

Skin peels are some of the most effective and impressive treatments in skincare today. There are two main forms of skin peels which are Resurfacer and Chemical Peels. Resurfacers superficially exfoliate the skin, meaning they work on the very top layer of the skin (stratum corneum). Resurfacers generally have little to no recovery time and can address several concerns through using acids and fruit enzymes, which work to refine and exfoliate the skin. The other type is chemical peels which exfoliate and address a wide variety of concerns, but also penetrate beyond the top layer of skin. As the chemical peel penetrates deeply into the skin, the active ingredients carry’s on working within the skin long after the treatment. Therefore leaving a stronger and extended results.

Understanding the differences will enable the client to be prepared for the upcoming treatment plan.

Have you ever had a skin peel yourself?

Yes, I think it’s important to experience as many treatments as I can to be able to explain to clients exactly what to expect.

What can I expect during a treatment with you?

Your skin will be thoroughly cleansed twice to remove make-up and any other debris that may be sitting on the skin. A preparatory solution will be used all over the skin to eliminate oils as it cleanses. Protective eye shields will be applied and also protective balm to any sensitive areas like the brows, nose and lips. The peel solution is then applied and left for the required time.

Does it hurt?

The skin can experience heat or an itching sensation and may also appear red and flushed. If you were suffering from an adverse reaction we can immediately apply a neutraliser which stops the acids from working but this is rare. If there is any sensitivity or warmth, the skin can be cooled with ice cold water until there is little or no warmth left. A special serum called Hydrator Serum is applied after the treatment, followed by a good SPF cream.

How long does a treatment take?

A full treatment takes between 30 and 45 minutes and you should find that to be a restful time for you.

What should I expect after the treatment?

You will experience some redness and flushing post treatment which can last from 30 minutes to 72 hours. This is mild and the skin will not be open or weeping. On the second day following treatment your skin may feel tight and appear a little blotched.

On the third day, peeling may begin, usually around the mouth and chin. The forehead is often the last place to peel and the peeling process can last between 3 and 7 days. Finally, after a week your skin will look refreshed, revived and glowingly healthy as the skin cells have been exfoliated and collagen and elastin has been stimulated.

What does the aftercare involve?

We recommend that you don’t use any acids for at least 5 days after your treatment and then slowly reintroduce these to your skin. Immediately after your treatment you should avoid any strenuous exercises, swimming and anything that heats the skin like saunas or steam rooms. I know it’s tempting but you really should try not to pick any loose skin. Instead continue to use Hydrator Serum and a good SPF, avoiding direct sun exposure. If you want to wear make-up, we recommend it is mineral make up.

Do clients typically worry about the after effects?

Some patients have heard stories of skin peels gone wrong however, that is most commonly at salons where staff do not have the necessary knowledge to carry out the treatment. At Destination Skin our clinicians are highly trained and we do our utmost to talk through every step of the treatment; what you can expect and what your skin will go through over the course of treatment.

We are always ethical, personable and passionate about results, which is why we are so confident in the service we are providing.

Do patients tend to come back again and, if so, how frequently?

It is important that clients continue with the treatment programme that has been determined for them as it’s an ongoing journey with the skin. In most cases we have to re-educate the skin, introducing new ingredients, going through the process of skin renewal and maintaining the skin health.

Clients are advised to have treatments every 2-4 weeks depending on the treatment and then every month to maintain their results.

Can you tell me about any real success stories you’ve had?

They have been so many over the years but one really stands out to me which I regularly use as an example in demonstrating Destination Skin values when teaching new practitioners.

A patient with pigmentation concerns had tried various different treatments which she found either irritated her skin further or made her pigmentation more pronounced. After 6 months of failed attempts she visited me at the Maddox Street Clinic. We had a long chat and I explained I wanted to take her skin on a journey that would start with taking her back to basics; to recondition and strengthen her skin using calming products from the EPIONCE range over three months.

She came back for assessments every 6 weeks to ensure her skin was responding to the products and to check she was using them correctly. After 3 months, I reassessed her skin and was pleased to see it presented very little inflammation, brighter tone and a slight reduction in pigmentation. There was a consistent smile on her face and she knew and understood why we were taking this route.

We were now ready to do some skin peels to further reduce her pigmentation. We undertook a course of 12 pigmentation peels, carried out every 2 weeks. During this time we introduced other pigmentation products to compliment the treatments.

After 9 months we had reduced her pigmentation by 60%. We had not completely eradicated her pigmentation, but her skin looked healthy and strong and she left us with further products to help her skin improve even further. She was a very happy client.

We’ve all heard the word ‘retinol’ being banded around skin care circles but when it comes down to it. How many of us actually know what a retinol treatment is? DestinationSkin are here to sort the fact from the fiction!

Who is a Retinol Peel for?

A Retinol Peel is ideal for those wanting to rejuvenate, hydrate and refresh their complexion. It also effectively prevents acne flair ups and helps to clear the skin of this condition.

What is it?

The Advanced Retinol Peel we offer is from DermaQuest and is a mild to moderate peel, suitable for most skin types. It is particularly ideal for those with acne, pigmentation and who want to reduce visible signs of ageing.

Now for the ‘sciency’ bit…This treatment contains retinol, which is a form of vitamin A and encourages the growth of skin cells once it is applied to the skin. Due to its small molecular size, retinol is able to penetrate into the deeper layers of your skin. This is where the live skin cells reside and the retinol gives them encouragement to grow, meaning that there are more skin cells able to move towards the surface of the skin and renew the dead or dying cells.

Put in plain terms, Retinol Peels help maintain the general appearance and health of the skin and are particularly effective on acne prone skin. The retinol unclogs pores and reduces acne outbreaks by allowing the cleansed skin to heal.

This treatment is also fantastic for anti-ageing and can minimise the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, boosting the skin’s elasticity and plumpness and slowing down the breakdown of natural collagen.

What are the main benefits of a Retinol Peel?

Skin will be hydrated and feel more even on the surface due to the boosted amount of fresh skin cells now on the surface of the skin. Acne flare-ups will be calmed and symptoms reduced. You will notice both short term and long-term benefits after this treatment.

Is it right for me?

The Advanced Retinol Peel is suitable for most skin types but is particularly effective on ageing and acne prone skin. To find out if the Advanced Retinol Peel can benefit your skin, book a free consultation with one of our registered practitioners.

We had a one on one session with our very own practicing Manager Hannah from DestinationSkin Bristol about adult acne. Having been with the company for over 2 years, Hannah has had to deal with adult acne before her time at DestinationSkin and after trying everything under the sun, the Obagi Blue Peel was her skin savior….

Have you always had acne, even before your time at DS?

Bit of a mixture yes and no. I never had acne or congested skin when I was at school, and then I picked it up as I got into my 20’s. I put it down to hormonal acne along with different allergies I picked up later into adult hood. My skin got quite sensitive with the allergies and I noticed my skin got even more congested around this time.

Even though I would put the acne down to hormones I would still get breakouts in between. This was mainly on my forehead which was congested with the occasional spots on my cheeks and around my chin.

What products did you try before and did you have any treatments?

I tried Clinique, estee lauder, elemis in the past but nothing really worked for me. It’s been a long time since I used those products but they didn’t work for me and my skin. They were mostly oil balancing products which I thought would work on my congestion and get rid of the excess oil but that wasn’t the case. I didn’t try any treatments and just stuck to products at the time from the high street, but again they just didn’t work for me.

You told us that you swear by the obagi blue peel, why is that?

Because of my skin type and allergies I used the obagi blue peel radiance as the other peels wouldhave irritated my skin. The girls in clinic are very thorough and I told them about my allergies so I had patch tests for the peels (on my arm) to test for irritation.

The obagi peel has just salicylic acid which is really good at getting rid of any excess oil & really help to clear the pores, which is just what my skin needed. My skin needed something nice and strong to get rid of everything. I had flaking and dryness for a few days after my first treatments and then after this, my tolerance grew and I didn’t have any effects. It was just going to show that it works. I had one the other day and my skin went back to normal and looks really bright and vibrant.

How many treatments did you have and what products did you have in-between treatment?

I had a treatment a month for about 3-4 months at the beginning to clear my skin and then one every 6 – 8 weeks. I’d have them as and when needed just when I could start to see my skin getting more congested and needed a bit more of a clear up. Another good thing about the obagi blue peel is that it is good for a one off skin treatment to decongest the skin before any occasions. If your hormones increases congestion around events or any time when you need clear skin then it’s a good treatment for that. Even when your skin is looking or feeling really clogged and needs a good exfoliation, the salicylic will target that and bring out the oil and decongest the skin. All good really.

Product wise I used a mixture of products following the DS product philosophy with products suited to my skin type and treatments I was having

CLEANSE – Agera ultra mild cleanser,

PREVENT – SkinCeuticals Phloretin CF

HYDRATE – Skinceutcials B5

PROTECT – Skinceuticals UV Defence

You said you moved onto mineral make up, why is that?

I wanted good coverage but had to move away from chemical foundations as they weren’t doing my skin any good. I moved onto Youngblood mineral foundation which gave me more than enough coverage & in all honesty all that I really need. I do wear chemical foundation now and then but I stick with my mineral make up for everyday use.

Any recommendations or suggestions to anyone with acne?

If you have hormonal acne then it’s all about control as it will unfortunately come back again and again. It’s also about getting to know your skin and what you had do to help control it. So as long as you speak to someone who will help you limit congestion at the right times and getting your skin under control then (as cheesy as it sounds) you will have control. So even if you do get one or two spots, your skin won’t progress into a bad condition.

I’ve always had problematic skin, suffering from my early teens with mild acne. I always have had a high amount of oil on my t-zone and my lower face is quite dry despite this area having the most congestion. Most of my problems are due to hormones and it’s always been quite difficult to control my outbreaks. I have always had a great routine at home, learning very quickly I would never be that person who could fall asleep in my makeup (unless I wanted to wake up to several new angry looking spots as punishment).

Unfortunately despite looking after my skin with a great routine at home, I have always been left with constant breakouts and I’ve realised its more about controlling what appears when my skin does decide to flare up.

As I’ve grown up my skin has become easier to manage but I’ve still never been clear of congestion and hormonal spots around my chin and cheek area. I’ve been left with red scarring over my cheeks with a small amount of pitting that makes my skin look uneven without make up.

My First Pumpkin Skin Peel

When I started at Destination Skin, the pumpkin skin peel was the first treatment recommended to me by fellow team members. They explained this facial would help to deep clean the congestion and begin the process in clearing my skin while also working on surface pigmentation.

The Primary and Power Pumpkin skin peel is specifically designed for those who suffer with acne and enlarged pores. It uses a mix of pumpkin pulp, salicylic, glycolic and lactic acid to stimulate cell renewal improving the texture for skin that has a slightly thicker appearance. It also has an antibacterial effect to treat active spots while correcting surface pigmentation to improve tone.

I was quite excited to get started with these facials and started to introduce products into my routine that would help prepare my skin as I had never used cosmeceutical products before starting with Destination Skin. By using these it meant I’d receive the maximum benefits for my skin when it came to my actual treatment.
One of my favourite products introduced into my facial routine was the Dermaquest BHA cleanser. It is a mild exfoliator to reduce blackheads and inflammation, I started to use this at night and noticed the oil that would normally sit on my skin started to lift and dry skin was exfoliated away. It leaves my skin feeling really clean so I can apply serums without thinking I still have a layer of oil or dry skin preventing maximum benefits.

With the treatment itself, the great thing I found about this facial is you can work up from slightly gentler to stronger levels, meaning you are always progressing in your treatments to gain the best results suited to your skin.
For my first treatment I started on a gentler peel to familiarise my skin to the treatment, when the actual product went onto my skin you start to feel your face tingle very slightly with a little bit of heat. Your practitioner will time how long the peel is left on the skin and will constantly watch to see how you are reacting to the product so you always feel really looked after and comfortable.

I was warned you do go a little bit pink with this treatment and once the product was removed and neutralised the heated sensation went completely and left my skin feeling tight.
Looking in the mirror after my first treatment I was quite flushed but this went down after 10 minutes and you could already see my skin was glowing.
You can experience some mild peeling after a few days of this treatment, I found I had this mainly around the mouth and jawline but it wasn’t extreme and completely manageable and was back to normal within a week. It was quite exciting to see some of my dry skin lift with clear skin underneath, even after one treatment my skin felt smoother.

A course of these treatments guarantees the best results, the first 6 treatments are done every 2 weeks and then followed by maintenance treatments after that.

I’ve been really happy with the results of this facial and can see why it’s such a popular treatment. My skin is much clearer, I’ve found my greatest result has been with the texture of my skin as it’s not as raised and bumpy.
I still have my outbreaks but they are more controlled and with maintenance treatments I can now make sure I’m not left with any scarring while addressing active spots quickly before it gets worse.

What type of acne do I have?

Acne can be frustrating, but there are many treatment options available. The best place to start your fight against acne is by figuring out what kind you have & then speaking to a skin specialist at DestinationSkin…